Benefits the UK Film Industry brings

“London’s screen industries are a global success story” – Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London

Economy

The UK film and television industry contributed £7.7 billion to the UK economy in 2016, 80% more than five years earlier – bringing multiple spin-off benefits for the wider economy – such as advertising, set design and catering.

Plus, inward investment to the UK reached record levels from the production of international feature film and High-End TV Drama in 2017.

Employment

The Creative Industries employ 2 million people – London alone employs 109,000 people across film, TV, radio and photography.

Further more, over the next 5 years, the industry will need at least 10,000 new entrants.

Tourism

Screen tourism is a growing phenomenon, with more and more locations across the country benefiting from a booming screen industry.

Inward tourism spend is strongly associated with the production of Film and High-End Television.

The Office for National Statistics figures show that since 2014 the economic value of the UK’s film, TV and music industries has grown 72.4%, compared with just 8.5% across the European Union. This boom is being fuelled by Hollywood studios increasingly choosing to shoot big-budget films in the UK, attracted by significant government tax breaks, as well as access to top-class on- and off-screen talent and studio facilities.

It benefits the borough & its communities

We manage filming in Tower Hamlets to maximise benefits for the council, its residents and businesses to provide community benefits that extend borough wide – not just in the areas that filming takes place.

Our work brings together the film industry, local community and voluntary sectors to provide training and development including work placement and employment opportunities for enthusiastic local residents wishing to gain experience and pursue a career in the industry.

Areas that accommodate filming benefit from significant ‘local spend’ by productions – through use of cafes, restaurants, hire of properties, accommodation providers, parking and green room hire. We ensure film crews use local services / charities wherever possible to reduce the impact of filming on location.

Voluntary Donations – for areas of high-level filming we obtain donations, including for local TRAs and Community Groups in order to fund and support their important community work, improving the daily lives of residents in direct, tangible ways.

These are voluntary and not legal requirements and must be brokered by Tower Hamlets Film Office in order that a reasonable balance is maintained for all parties. We ensure donations go to bona fide associations / groups and may from time to time seek to confirm group status / membership, in order to provide support.